Why the ground is the place to start
The regulators’ first rule on heights is to stay on the ground where the work allows it ; the guide to ladders, roofs and gutters quotes it in full. Looking costs nothing and needs no ladder. Two moments are worth choosing: during steady rain, to see whether the gutter carries the water or sheds it, and on a dry, bright day, to see the line of the gutter against the sky.
The QBCC, Queensland’s building regulator, explains why this matters. It often receives complaints about roof leaks; some come from defective building work, but it says leaks are often caused by a lack of maintenance and cleaning.
What to look for, and what the sources say
Each row pairs something you might see with what an official source says about it. Where the source is Victorian, it describes how Victoria expects the work to be installed; it is a useful yardstick elsewhere, but it is Victoria’s rule.
| What you might see | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Leaves, twigs or seedlings showing above the gutter edge | The QBCC: “Don’t let leaves and debris build up in gutters and downpipes.” Sydney Water, writing about rainwater tanks, says gutters, screens and downpipes are commonly overlooked when it comes to maintenance. |
| Water sitting in the gutter long after rain, or mosquitoes around the eaves | NSW Health includes “clear drains and roof gutters so water runs freely” in its list of the best ways to reduce the number of mosquitoes around a home. |
| Water running the wrong way, or pooling at one end | Your Home, the Australian Government’s guide to sustainable homes, says to ensure all gutters fall towards the outlets when collecting rainwater. |
| A run that sags, or has pulled away from the fascia | In Victoria, an eaves gutter must be supported so it can bear its total weight when full of water, with brackets at the stop ends and between them at intervals not exceeding 1200 mm. |
| A long run that has buckled | Victoria’s practice note says an eaves gutter must not exceed 20 m without provision for expansion. |
| Cracked or broken sections, or lifted flashing | The QBCC: “Repair cracked or broken tiles, guttering or flashing.” |
| Water pouring over the front in heavy rain | Victoria’s practice note says an eaves gutter’s design should include overflow provisions, and shows several ways of making them. |
| A downpipe that is dented, loose, or in the way of a door or window | In Victoria, downpipes are to be placed so they don’t interfere with the normal use of a door, window or access opening, and so they are protected from mechanical damage; their supports must allow for thermal expansion. |
If the gutters feed a rainwater tank
A gutter that feeds a tank is part of a water supply. Your Home lists the parts of a rainwater harvesting system as the roof and gutters, a collection system including downpipes, leaf-shedding rain-heads and first flush diverters, the tank, and the supply system.
Sydney Water describes gutters, screens and downpipes as key parts of a rainwater system that divert water from the roof into the tank, and lists simple ways to prevent blockages and improve water quality:
- trim back overhanging vegetation
- check and clean the gutters regularly
- remove leaves and debris from the roof’s catchment area
- clear the screens and downpipes
- install a good quality gutter guard and downpipe screen.
The QBCC’s storm and cyclone preparation list includes trimming trees and clearing gutters and downpipes. Fire services give the same job a fire-season reason: see gutters and ember attack.
From noticing to fixing
Seeing a problem and repairing it are different jobs, and the law treats them differently. In New South Wales, roof plumbing is licensed trade work, and it takes in every kind of work on guttering, downpipes, roof flashing and roof coverings, from installing and fixing to repairing and maintaining. In Victoria, the class called roofing stormwater work covers repairing any part of a roof drainage system, but it does not include cleaning, painting or preparation work, other than connecting, disconnecting or altering an item.
Before anyone goes up, the guide to ladders, roofs and gutters sets out what the safety regulators say, and who can do roof plumbing work covers the licences in each state.
A photo of each problem, taken from the same spot with the date, makes a slow change easy to see, and gives whoever does the repair a clear picture before they arrive.
More from the guide
- Ladders, roofs and guttersWhat the work health and safety regulators say about ladders and roof edges.
- Gutters and ember attackWhat the NSW RFS, the CFA and the QBCC ask of a gutter before fire season.
- Who can do roof plumbing workLicences for gutter and roof drainage work in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
- Where downpipe water may goStormwater, the sewer, tanks, and the pipes an owner looks after.
- Box gutters, and why they failWhat a box gutter is, and the Victorian regulator’s rules for one.